Merry Christmas from the Rosages'

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

from our home to yours...

May you find Peace, Hope, and Joy

this Holiday Season...

The Rosages'

2008

"Peace on Earth... Goodwill toward Men"

The quaint little village of Blarney in County Cork...

After arriving at our hotel earlier than expected with our group... we had plenty of time to explore the small village of Blarney before our tour of Blarney Castle the next day. And explore we did... Tami and I walked the streets of Blarney from one end to the other.

The streets and buildings had a charm and the weather and light were perfect! The only way it could have been better for me is if I had my paints and easel and could paint "en plein aire". I didn't have the paints but I did have the camera... and plenty of scenes to choose from. The small painting below is referenced from a photo I took of Tami below it.
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"Just down the hill a bit..." ... 8x6" Oil on Panel, alla prima, 11-2008.

Tami in Blarney....

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As we walked the town we found a great little "Fish and Chips To Go" place and got some chips... which are similar to our "steak fries"... and onion rings. The "chips" we are used to here in the states are called "crisps" in Ireland. We gathered our "chips and onion rings" and headed for a small park in the center of town where all the locals gathered to play or watch soccer (football). We had a great/relaxing afternoon...

enjoying our food, the park, and each others company...

resting up for the next day and our "Quest to Kiss the Blarney Stone" and gain the gift of gab...

Here we are at the Blarney Castle on the beginning leg of our quest...

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more to come...

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"Off to Kiss the Blarney Stone"... Our Quest for the Gift of Gab!

The Flight: we are so small...

As Tami and I flew from Wilmington to Atlanta, and from Atlanta to Dublin I had a revelation. Now take into consideration... I am not a world traveler... in fact at age 46, this was only my 4th flight (first trans-Atlantic)... so I was as wide-eyed as a child when we took flight. The sky was full of those puffy white clouds reminding me of those "Jesus in the sky" paintings all over the internet... Heavenly to say the least. Two things I realized... #1... there are still a lot of trees left and... #2... we are small.



Most people, myself included, get caught up in our own world and often think the world revolves around us or at least around our small inner circle of friends, family, and acquaintances. Up in the clouds I realized just how small we are... a very humbling experience. Humbling yet uplifting... uplifting in the fact that as small as we are God knows the very number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:6-8). He not only knows us... He loves us! John 3:16...

Check out this short video that shows just how small we are....

Kevin Barry's Irish Pub in Savannah... Pappy's 70th Birthday Celebration!

Located on River Street in Savannah, Georgia... Kevin Barry's Irish Pub became our favorite hang-out during our recent trip to Savannah in celebration of Pappy's 70th birthday. We had a blast everywhere we went but seemed to migrate to Kevin Barry's on three separate occasions in our two day stay... definitely due to the Good Craic! The pub is named after Kevin Barry, a young Irish patriot who gave his life in Ireland's fight for freedom... much like our own Nathan Hale of the American Revolution. Our food was excellent... the Guinness gave us strength... and the entertainment was superb! Irish folk singer Harry O'Donoghue was one of the main reasons for our Good Craic'n Time! Watch the video below and you'll see what I mean. If you ever get a chance to see Harry live... do so... and if you are ever in Savannah... be sure to drop by Kevin Barry's Irish Pub!
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Happy Birthday Pappy (Dad)!!!!!!
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LtoR: Mike, Fonda, Pappy (Birthday Boy), Granny, Tami, and Bernie.

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Irish Singer - Harry O'Donoghue - Irish music


Click HERE to see more Harry O'Donoghue videos...

Thanks Pappy and Granny for the GREAT weekend!